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Heritage Manx transport set for season finale

Josh CannIsle of Man
BBC A mountain tram high up on a hillside. BBC
Services will not run again until March

The Isle of Man's heritage railways will close for the season this weekend, with special services and events planned to mark the occasion.

Two of the Manx Electric Railway's oldest trams, dating from 1893 and 1894, will be in service, while a historic steam locomotive will mark 140 years of the Foxdale branch line.

Smaller railways and heritage groups across the island will also put on Hop-tu-Naa ghost trains, open days and vintage bus trips.

Isle of Man Railways said it "looked forward to welcoming people to close the season".

Some of the line's original 1890s tramcars will be brought out on Saturday, with Car 2 making one last round trip before closing for the winter.

Car 2 and its sister Car 1 hold the Guinness World Record for the oldest trams still carrying paying passengers.

Steam finale

The Steam Railway has carried passengers between Douglas and Port Erin since 1874, and is the last surviving line of a network that once reached Peel, Ramsey and Foxdale.

On Sunday, Caledonia, a locomotive built in 1885 to climb the steep route out of Foxdale, will haul four trains with a newly restored coach to mark 140 years since that line opened.

Manx Scenes An old steam train Manx Scenes
The Steam Railway has run between Douglas and Port Erin since 1874

'Two-horse tram'

On Douglas promenade, the horse tramway's 150th anniversary season will come to an end with Saturday's tram decorated for Hop-tu-Naa.

Double-decker tram 18 will then be pulled by two horses for special journeys along Douglas Promenade.

Some of the Snaefell Mountain Railway's collection of wagons will also be on display at Laxey station.

PA King Charles rides a horse tram PA
The King rode tram 18 during his visit in July

Groudle Glen Railway and the Great Laxey Mine Railway will both run Hop-tu-Naa ghost trains on Saturday and Sunday.

In Ramsey on Sunday, the Jurby Transport Museum will run heritage bus trips from the Manx Electric Railway station, and the Queen's Pier will hold an open day to show its restoration work.

Meanwhile, an exhibition at the House of Manannan in Peel marks 50 years of public ownership of Bus Vannin.

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